Spring suspension.



No. 897,694. PATENTBD SEPT. 1, 1908. W. 0. WORTH.

SPRING SUSPENSION.

AQPLIOATION FILED NOV. 21, 21906.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 12 No. 897,694. v PATENTED SEPT. 1, 190a.

' w. 0. WORTH.

SPRING SUSPENSION. Arrmoulbn FILED NOV. 21, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM O. WORTH, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

SPRING SUSPENSION.

Application filed. November 21, 1906. Serial No. 344,427.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

This invention relates to improvements iii spring suspensions and moreparticularly to a spring suspension adapted for vehicle use.

l-Ieretofore the springs for vehicles have usually been engaged"directly between the axle and body lying wholly above the axle andtransmit even underthe best conditions considerable of the jar and shockreceived from the axle directly to the body of the ve hicle to theannoyance and discomfort of the occupants or injury to the load when theroads are rough.

It is an'object of the invention to provide a spring suspension forvehicles or other purposes inwhich multiple springs, each composed of aplurality of sections are so constructed and arranged that all shocksare indirectly transmitted through the spring sections and are therebyabsorbed before reaching the body;

Another object of the invention is to provide a spring in which theshock i distributed over a plurality of group ed sections, each groupacting to absorb a part of the shock and vibration imparted from thepreceding group.

A very important object of the invention is not only to absorb all shockif possible by means of the springs but what is fully as important todistribute any jar or shock not fully absorbed by the springs uniformlyto all parts of the vehicle body instead of that portion just above theaxles only.

It is finally an object of the invention to provide cheap, simple andexceedingly durale springs for the purposes described which can bequickly applied to any vehicle and when applied serve as a spring andalso as a shock absorber.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described-and morefully pointed my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a slightlymodified form of a spring embodying my invention. Fi 3 is an enlargedfragmentary detailof the same showing the pad in section. Fig. 4 is aside elevation of the spring showing the same supported below the axle.Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the same supported above the axle. Fig.6 is a similar view'showinglthe spring under compression. Fig. 7 is asection on line 77 of Fig. 6.

As shown in said drawings: A represents the side sill of a vehicle suchas 'anautomobile or any desired kind of Vehicle and B, one of the axleswith which said sill is connected by the spring. Rigidly engaged on saidsill at any convenient position is a plate or casing E, provided with adownwardly opening pocket. Pivotally engaged in said pocket is adepending link a, and pivotally engaged on the adjacent extremity of thesill is a link e, which extends upwardly. Said links ee, pivotallyengage the ends of the longest leaf 0 of a semi-elliptical springsection C comprising a plurality of leaves 0 to C inclusive of which theleaves decrease in length downwardly and at the ends thereof laterallyand upwardly directed lips c between which the next longer leaf abovelies, may or may not be provided. Supporting said spring section C andto which the same is rigidly secured thereto by U bolts d, is a shorterauxiliary section D, comprising a long outer main leaf D, anda pluralityof successively shorter upper and inner leaves ,D to D inclusive, whichalso may or may not be provided with lateral lips c, corre sponding withthe lips 0 before described and serving a similar purpose.

Secured on the axle B, is a bearing clip G, through which the axleextends and the top of which is extended to afford a seat for the upperspring section F, which is secured thereto at its middle by U bolts Saidspring section F comprises a long outer leaf F pivotally engaged at itsends with the ends of the leaf D of the spring section D andsuccessively shorter inner leaves F to F inclusive near the extremitiesof which may be provided lateral lips or flanges c", corresp 0ndingwiththose before described and serving the same purpose.

The spring as shown in Fig. 2, is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 withthe exception that the bracket or hanger E for the inner end of the leafO is integral with the plate E, and

- the lips or flanges c engaging at the sides of long link E Thearrangement shown in Fi s. 56 and 7 illustrate the springs supportedwholly above the axle B. To enable this to be done a hearing is securedon the axle and extends upwardly on each side the spring and is rigidlyclamped to the upper section at its middle. Said bearing clamp is of alength to afford suflicient play for the lower sections H and D, whichare constructed as before described, except that the same are normallystraight as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. No pads of any kind are requiredexcept the pad g between the sections F 5 and D shown in Fig. 4,inasmuch as the sections D, and H, in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 can never closeas they bend oppositely from a common center.

The operation is as follows: Any obstruction in the road which throwsthe axle upwardly imparts its shock first to the spring section F, themiddle of which is bowed up somewhat by the upward stress on the axlewhile the weight of the body being carried centrally on the section Dand acting oppositely from the axle the ends thereof are sprung upwardlyand away from the body spring 0, the middle of which may also with l rgeobstructions be sprung upwardly somewhat though ordinarily the sectionsFD do practically all the work except that the long body spring Cabsorbs stresses too great to be absorbed by the other sections. Ofcourse the section D is sprung away from the section 0 on the upwardmovement of the axle both springs being fixed in the direction. of theirgreatest resistance in consequence when the obstruction is passed thedownward movement of the axle is entirely absorbed by the quick returnof the springs to normal and the body is thus carried without vibration.or appreciable vibration even. on rough roads though the car be drivenat a high. rate of speed.

Inasmuch as the upper spring section. F is rigidly secured. to andsupported centrally on the axle and is connected at its ends with thesection D which extends below the axle and on which the weight of thebody is carried the greater part of the shock is absorbed thereby and bythe auxiliary spring section D. The inner leaves of the ellipticalspring formed by said two sections F and D may contain any number ofleaves to impart the a required strength to the spring and enable it toabsorb practically all the ordinary shocks received on the axle. Only avery small amount of the shock is ever transmitted to the body of thevehicle through the spring sections C and that is distributed over alarge area owing to the length of said section affording bearings forthe frame at such. greater distance from the axle than is possible inother springs. h

The danger of breakage from the recoil from severe shocks is obviatedinasmuch. as the recoil is always limited by the presence. of the axle,clip and butting pad 1 between the sections D and F, and also by thecoaetion ol the ends of the section D and its butting blocks 9 The linkconnections between the spring section (7 and the frame or between thespring sections D and F insure each section acting with maximumellieiency independently and the shock from. starting, sudden stopping,backing, etc, also more readily absorbed. Of course, the butting blocksor pads of rubber g may be placed between the bottom of the clip G andthe spring section D and between the ends of the latter and the springsection 0, to prevent clashing or any expedient may be 'I'esorted to forthat purpose though the sections 4 and D, D"ltl or D ll, can. neverclash inasmuch as they act oppositely from. a common center. The numberof leaves and manner of arranging and engaging the same may be variedand the pivotal connections between the sections may be of any suitablekind and the springs may be engaged wholly above the axle or whollybelow the axle or partly above and partly below the axle and theconnectionsfor engaging the spring to the vehicle may be varied, and.the pads may be omitted or arranged where and of any kind desired, Itherefore do not purpose lim iting this application. for patent as todetails as they may be varied. without departing from the principles ofthis invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A spring suspension of the class described embracing a longsemi-elliptical bo l v spring and a shorter elliptical spring having onesection rigidly bolted to the same and the upper section of theelliptical spring eonnected directly with. the axle.

2. A spring suspension of the class described embracing a long bodyspring connected at its ends with the frame, a spring comprisingoppositely disposed. sections, each having leaves decreasing in length.inwardly, one of said sections shaped. for approximately its entirelength, complementally with the long body spring and rigidly securedthereto and means connecting the other section. wit h the axle.

3. A spring suspension of? the class described. embracing a long bodyspring extending below the axle, a spring connecting the same centrallywith the axle and pads engaged between the body spring and the ends ofsaid last named spring.

4. A spring suspension of the class de scribed embracing a longbodyspring extending below the axle and a spring connecting the samecentrally with the axle, a butting block between the body spring andaxle and a butting block between the body spring and each end of theother spring.

5. A spring suspension embracing a long body spring consisting of aplurality of leaves, a spring consisting of oppositely disposedsections, positioned above said body spring, said sections havinginwardly facing leaves, means connecting one section to the lower bodyspring and means connecting the other section with the axle.

6( A spring suspension embracing a long body spring consisting of asingle section, a depending link pivotally connected to the body at oneend and pivotally engaging one end of said body spring, an upwardlydirected link pivotally connected to the body and at its upper endpivotally connected to the other end of the body spring, and pivotallyconnected spring sections having inwardly facing leaves, concave ontheir sides adjacent the axle, one of said sections rigidly connected tothe axle and the other directly connected to the long body spring.

7. A spring suspension embracing an elliptical su porting spring, a bodyspring of greater ength secured thereon, means pivoting the body springat each end to the frame to afford a swinging movement and means adaptedto absorb the impact between said elliptical and body springs.

8. A spring suspension embracing an elliptical supporting spring and abody spring comprising a section of greater length than the ellipticalspring and secured thereon centrally and links pivoted to the body, one

. depending from said body and the other directed upwardly and the lowerand upper -ends of said links pivotally connected with the ends of saidbody spring.

9. A spring suspension embracing an elliptical supporting spring eachsection having leaves decreasing in length inwardly and adapted to becentrally engaged on an axle and a body spring engaged centrally to saidsupporting spring and adapted to be engaged at its ends to a vehiclebody and comprising leaves arranged to resist upward pressure at itsmiddle.

' 10. A spring suspension embracing a body spring consisting of onesection adapted to be pivotally engaged at'its ends to a vehicle body, adouble elliptical supporting spring supported on the axle on one sideand at the other rigidly engaged centrally to the center of said bodyspring the sections thereof having inwardly arranged leaves.

11. A spring suspension embracing an elliptical supporting springcomprising a plurality of sections one on each side the axle and theupper of which is secured on the axle and each comprising a plurality ofinwardly disposed. leaves and a longer body spring consisting of asingle section engaged centrally to the lower section and havingdownwardly disposed leaves said section at its ends pivoted to theframe.

12. A spring suspension embracing an elliptical supporting springcomprising a plurality of sections one on each side the axle and theupper of which is secured on the axle and each comprising a plurality ofinwardly disposed leaves and a longer body spring ongaged centrally tothe lower section and having downwardly disposed leaves, and meansengaged between said spring sections to absorb the impact.

13. The combination with the body and axle of an elliptical springcomprising an upper section secured'on the axle and a lower sectionconnected on the ends thereof and extending below the axle a longer halfelliptical body spring connected centrally to the lower section of thesupporting spring and links pivotally engaging the body spring at itsends to the body and pads for absorbing the impact of said springs.

14:. A spring suspension embracing an el liptical supporting springcomprising sections each having a plurality of inwardly arranged leaves,an axle extending between the same and on which the upper section issecured, a half elliptical spring connected at its middle with the lowersection of the supporting spring and comprising a plurality ofdownwardly arranged leaves, links pivotally connected to the ends of thehalf elliptical spring and means on said leaves for prevent ing relativelateral movement of the leaves.

15. A spring suspension embracing oppositely disposed sections havinginwardly arranged leaves, a body spring supported thereon, lips orflanges on the ends of said leaves adapted to prevent lateral movementof the same and resilient pads arranged between adjacent springsections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM O. WORTH. Witnesses K. E. HANNAH, G. W. DANZ.

